Rev. Kenneth Zielke

Rev. Kenneth Edward Zielke, age 86, of Coldwater Lake, Michigan, died Monday, April 26, 2021 at Maple Lawn Nursing Home in Coldwater, Michigan. Mr. Zielke was born in Detroit, Michigan on February 25, 1935 to the late Adolf and Marie (Slank) Zielke.

Kenneth was baptized and confirmed in the Bethel Lutheran Church and later became a member of St. Thomas and St. Peter Lutheran Church. After graduating from elementary school, he graduated from the Detroit Lutheran High School. The next four years of his educational training were spent in Fort Wayne, Indiana where he first attended Concordia College and Concordia Senior College.

After graduating from Concordia Senior College in 1959, he entered Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri.  There he completed his ministerial training in the spring of 1962. Previous to his graduation from the seminary Pastor Zielke served in Buffalo, New York at Saint Paul Lutheran Church. During his studies at Concordia Seminary, his activities included participating  in varsity baseball and singing in the seminary chorus. He married Alice Lucille Thieme on June 24, 1961 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. 

Pastor Zielke began his ministry as pastor of Zion Lutheran Church Waubay, South Dakota in August of 1962. In January of 1965, he accepted a call to be the assistant pastor of Atonement Lutheran Church in Dearborn, Michigan. In December of 1968, Pastor Zielke accepted a call to Risen Christ Lutheran Church, Plymouth, Michigan. In October of 1986, Rev. Zielke became an assistant pastor at Faith Lutheran Church, Troy, Michigan. Rev. Zielke served in Christian ministry for 36 years before retiring in August of 1997 and moving to Coldwater, Michigan.

Survivors include:
Wife, Alice Zielke of Coldwater Lake, Coldwater, Michigan.
Daughter, Kathy Zielke of North Liberty, Indiana.
Son, Mark and Cheryl Zielke of Goshen, Connecticut.
Three grandchildren: Jacob Hughes of Indianapolis; Aley Zielke of Goshen, Connecticut and Caroline Joy “CJ” Zielke of Goshen, Connecticut. 
Brother, Adolf “Ade” and Ruth Zielke of Illinois.
Sister, Sharon and George Edwards of Mt. Clemons, Michigan.
Sister, Verlaine Munn of Mt. Clemons, Michigan.
Sister, Kristen and Harry Krupsky of Mt. Clemons, Michigan.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, May 2, 2021 at 2:00 PM at Peace Lutheran Church, 355 E State Road 120, Fremont, Indiana with visitation at 1:00 PM prior to the service. Burial will follow at Wilson Cemetery near Coldwater, Michigan.
Memorial donations may be made to Peace Lutheran Church, Fremont or Risen Christ Lutheran Church, Plymouth, Michigan.

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